YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Alter or return culottes?

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Alter or return culottes? https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alter-or-return-culottes Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 11 Apr 2026 10:13:23 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php K.M. on "Alter or return culottes?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alter-or-return-culottes#post-1892994 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 21:08:45 +0000 K.M. 1892994@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Vildy, thank you! The placement does work because the pockets are so big and deep now--they still work even if they are shortened a little. I'm so grateful for the collective wisdom of this forum! Vildy on "Alter or return culottes?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alter-or-return-culottes#post-1892987 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 20:38:03 +0000 Vildy 1892987@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ If #6 works for you in terms of pocket placement (not suggesting that it doesn't) then having seamstress remove waistband, cut the top lower and restitch darts if any and needed and replace waistband is close to a cinch to do. Angie on "Alter or return culottes?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alter-or-return-culottes#post-1892970 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 19:56:24 +0000 Angie 1892970@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ YES. Good idea.  K.M. on "Alter or return culottes?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alter-or-return-culottes#post-1892969 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 19:52:06 +0000 K.M. 1892969@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Angie, I like the proportion when it's folded, so maybe I should fold it when I show my seamstress how I want it? Suz, it's funny how I always thought I'd never look good in these because I'm too short--with short legs! This came out of the extreme boredom with months and months of wearing skinnies tucked into boots because of our snowy, messy, long winter (I know you can relate!). They were very affordable ($36 I think) so I suppose I can justify a pricey alteration given how hard they are to find... Thank you for everybody's answers and feedback! You have helped me decide. They are staying and I'll be off to my seamstress very soon! Suz on "Alter or return culottes?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alter-or-return-culottes#post-1892963 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 19:34:57 +0000 Suz 1892963@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ If you can find a way to alter them I hope you do because the shape is super flattering on you and they seem like exactly what you're searching for. Love them as they look in #6. It might be pricey to alter, yet if they became the workhorses they might become, completely worth it.  It's a silhouette made for your willowy frame!  Angie on "Alter or return culottes?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alter-or-return-culottes#post-1892958 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 19:23:04 +0000 Angie 1892958@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ #6 looks perfect. The waistband looks fine folded in the pic, K.M. What do you think? K.M. on "Alter or return culottes?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alter-or-return-culottes#post-1892947 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 18:56:09 +0000 K.M. 1892947@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Jessikams, thanks, I'm glad it looks OK! It's such a different silhouette from what I usually wear and maybe I'm on the fence because I'm not sure it looks good on me. I always thought I was too short to wear culottes, but recently I've begun to appreciate how refreshing they look as a winter option. Jessikams on "Alter or return culottes?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alter-or-return-culottes#post-1892798 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 08:29:25 +0000 Jessikams 1892798@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ That outfit looks fab on you—slam dunk! K.M. on "Alter or return culottes?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alter-or-return-culottes#post-1892747 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 03:08:04 +0000 K.M. 1892747@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ barbaraq, very good points. And I'm glad they look OK in me! It's a very new look for me, I don't even have cropped slim pants, let alone cropped wide legs! Good question about the pockets. I must say that one thing that drew me to these pants were the pockets. I love the way they look and also that they are functional. But you are right that it might be worth it parting with them to make the pants work. barbaraq on "Alter or return culottes?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alter-or-return-culottes#post-1892744 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 03:02:52 +0000 barbaraq 1892744@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ It's the low crotch issue that is the biggest problem.  No way to solve it without removing the waistband and thereby getting the pockets out of whack when you raise the crotch.  If your seamstress could remove the waistband to hike up the low crotch, would you be willing to simply remove the pockets?  That would save money.  The culottes are basically very flattering to you.  You would probably wear them enough to justify the expense. K.M. on "Alter or return culottes?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alter-or-return-culottes#post-1892729 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 02:16:18 +0000 K.M. 1892729@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ SarahDB, I often do the roll-over waistband too! But in this case the fabric is a bit too thick, so it's not very comfortable. I also do like to tuck tops in and to have the waistline showing, so it wouldn't work for this one. Interesting point about the pockets. My seamstress is not cheap, but she's good. I've often paid her more than what I paid for the clothing item because she can work wonders. (Even on difficult items like an ill-fitting jacket suit for my husband.) I still haven't taken this to her to get an estimate though... SarahD8 on "Alter or return culottes?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alter-or-return-culottes#post-1892722 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 02:06:44 +0000 SarahD8 1892722@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ With the caveat that I am not an expert seamstress, the construction of these culottes looks pretty straightforward and I think they should be alter-able. It looks like the pockets would have to be removed and moved down so that could add to the expense involved. Honestly...when I have this sort of problem (which is often) I just wear the pants with the waistband rolled over. But, I never tuck in my tops so it is never visible. K.M. on "Alter or return culottes?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alter-or-return-culottes#post-1892718 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 01:47:26 +0000 K.M. 1892718@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ To those of you more well versed in tailoring and sewing: do you think this pair of culottes can be successfully altered? Background: I'd been searching high and low for a pair of cropped wide-legs in thick, warm material to wear in winter. It's hard to find (most pairs are made of much thinner fabrics). I finally got this pair on Amazon, and it's a really nice, stretchy, warm, comfy acrylic wool blend. But their smallest size is still too large on me. If I wear them high up on my torso they look OK (Figs. 1 and 2), but are kind of loose and have a little bulge on the sides below the waistband (Fig. 2). If I lower them to my natural waist (not low-waist, just natural), the crotch seam hangs extremely low, which I don't like (Figs. 4 and 5). I'm also not sure of the PPL. I'm also including a photo where I rolled the waist to shorten the pants to show my ideal fit in terms of length and crotch seam (Fig. 6). So... what do you think? What's their best fit and length, and can I get there with alterations or should I not bother? I'm including pics of the pants on the floor so you can see how they are constructed. Those pics are overexposed and therefore do not flatter the fabric at all--they look much nicer in person, but I wanted you to be able to see the details. Thanks for any advice!